Sled.



J. C. VAN AKEN.

SLED.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 19. 1914.

1,177; 55. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

F/EZZ.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu. WASHINGTON. D. c.

iii

JOHN G. VAN AKEN, or RIDGEWAY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SLED.

To'all whom itmag concern: .1 y

Be it known that? I, JOHN C.VAN AKEN,

a citizen of the United States,residing at Ridgeway, in the county of Elk and State Of Pennsylvania, have" invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Sleds, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to frames of toy or hand sleds, and has for its objects to provide a simple andinexpensive metallic sled frame construction which Wlll possess the necessary strength and rigidity for itsintended purpose and which willpermit the assembling of the sled Without the use of bolts, rivets or other fastening devices for the attachmentof the wooden parts of the sled,to the metallic frame thereof, and also to provide a combined cross brace andrunner supportadapted for use, wlthout mod1- fication, in the frames of sledsof different widths, thereby providing for a standardization and interchangeability of parts in manufacture and use. a y

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same maybe carried intoefte'ct, will best be understoodfrom the following description of one form or embodiment thcreofillujsticular constructiondescribed and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention may be otherwise embodied and practised withouthdepartingfrom the spiritand scope thereof as defined'by theclaimshereunto appended.

In said drawings: Figure 1. is a bottom planview of a sled having a frame constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 3 an elevation ona similar scale, of one ofthe combined cross braces and runner supports. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plairview of the joint connecting the twoportions of the cross brace.

For convenience theinvention is herein shown as embodied in a sled of the general type shown and described in Letters Patent No. 1,040,061, granted to me Oct. 1, 1912, although, as will be seen, the parts forming the subject matter of the present invention ,are in no wise limited, as to their utility, to "sleds "bf this or any other "particular type.

Specification of LettersPatent.

i Application filed. November 19, 1914. Serial No. 872,995. 1

As shown in Fig. 1, said sled comprises a top or body, designated as a whole by the numeral 10, supported by frame members, designated as a whole by the numeral 11, from runners 12 which are preferably constructed of steel bars substantially T-shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3. The runners 12 are connected at theirjupwardly turned forward ends by a cross bar 13 pivoted at its ends to said runners. Intermediate its endssaid cross bar 13 is bent rearwardly to form an elongated U-shaped extension 14 with which cotiperates a bolt 15 projecting downwardly from the steering bar 16. The top or body comprises a platform 17'and a frame coniposed'of side bars 18, above and normally parallel to the runners 12, and connected by .a cross piece 19 immediately above and parallel to the bar 13. The steering bar 16 is connected with the platform 17 by means of a link 20 rigidly secured to said steering bar "and pivoted at 21 to said platform. Turning of the steering bar 16 about the pivot 21 operates, through the bolt 15, extension :14, and bar 13, to flex the runners12 laterally for'the purpose of steering the sled.

Each of the frame members 11, which constitute the subject matter of the present invention, preferably comprises two portions or sections, designated'as a whole by the numerals 22 and 23, respectively, each composed of, sheet metal bent into the re- .quired form. as will now bedescribed.

The member 22 comprises a top or supporting portion 24 provided with depend-- ing side flanges 25, an end extension 26 de pressed slightly below the top24, and a pair of supporting legs 27. Similarlythe section 23 comprises a top 28 provided with side flanges 29, a depressed end extension 30, and a pair of supporting legs 31.

The top portion 28 of the section 23 is formed with a reduced end or extension 32 which is telescopically received within the end of the top portion 24 of the section 22, being guided and supported therein between the side flanges 25 and resting upon inturned portions 33 at the lower edges of said side flanges. When so connected, the top portions 24 and 28 of the sections 22 and 23 collectively form a cross brace" upon which the platform 17 is supported, while the end eX- tensions 26K'and 3O formsupports for the j side bars 18 of the sled top. j

The top portion 24 0f the Secti n 2 is provided with a resilient locking. tongue 34, preferably formed integral with said top portion by being stamped or struck out from the metal thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. a The tongue 34 is bent at its end to form an angular locking portion 35 adapted to engage any one of a series of openings 36 in the reduced end 32 of the top portion 28 of the'section 23,thereby locking the sections 22 and 23 to.- gether. As herein shown two openings 36 are. provided in the extension 32, although any other suitable number may be provided as desired or in accordance with tlie requirementsl By engaging the angular end 35 of the locking tongue 3% with one or another of the openings 36 it will be seen that the length of the frame member 11- may be varied in accordance with the Width of the sled in which the same is used.

By forming the locking end 35' of the tongue 34 of the angular shape shown it will be seen that the two sections of the frame member may be forced together or pulled apart tov any desired position ofadjustment, the. resilient tongue 3 1 yielding to permitthe locking end 35 thereof to enter or :leave the openings 56 and to ride over the surface of the end 32 between said openings. 1When, however, the sled is fully assembled, and theplatform 17 secured to. the cross braces formed by the portions 24. and 28. of. the frame member 11, engagement of the boards or slats, forming parts of said platform,

with the locking tongues 3%lwill hold the locking ends 35 thereof in locked engagement with the desired openings 36, thereby permanently connecting the sections 22.-and 23 of said frame members. a

The legs 27 and 31 may be of any suitable form and dimensions and are bifurcated at their ends tov form ears 37 .which embrace andaresecured, as by rivets, to the upstanding flanges 38 of the runners 12.

. .The top portions 24. and 281 and the end extensions 26 and 30. ofthe sections 22 and 23 are provided with integralstruclrup prongs .39, preferably :formed by stamping out triangular portions ofthe. metal, as

shown, said prongs constituting permanently associated means .foruattachingthe slats forming the platform 17, asw'ell as the side bars 18 ofthe top frame, tovthe framemember .11. The. prong-s 39 may be of any suitable number. and arrangement according to. the requirements, certain of said prongs being preferably formed singly, as

indicated at 39 in Fig. 2, andiothers in overlapping pairs, as indicated at 39". in the same figure, the prongs 39? of each pair being adapted to engage ad acent slats, re-

spectively. Said prongs serve as an eflicientmeans for securingtogether thetop and. frame members of the sled without the use of rivets, nails, screws or thelike, thereby' eliminatingthe cost of. such fastening devices as Well as the .time' andlabor of assembling the parts of the sled.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In a sled, a metallic frame member providedwvith permanently associated attaching prongs comprising integral, struck up, triangular portions of the metal of said member, said prongs being arranged inoverlapping pairs.

2. In a sled, a combined cross brace-.and

runner support arranged. transversely of said sled, adjustable in length, and provided. with permanently associated means for se-' curing the sled top thereto.

3. A sled comprising, in combinat on, a top, runners, and frame. members connecting said top and runners, saidframe mem-.

bers each comprising a cross brace extending transversely of said topand secured thereto andsupporting legs extending from said cross'brace and. secured tos'aidrunners, said cross braces being adjustable inIlength.

4. In a sled,va top. supporting cross brace comprising two portions, one of said .portions having side flanges provided with inturned lower edges, andthe other of said portions having a reduced end telescopically. received between the side flanges of saidfirst named portion. a a 5.. In a sled, .a top supporting crossbrace comprising two telescoping portions and means to locksaid portionstogether ad-v justed position. y

6. In a sled, a top. supporting cross .brace comprising two telescoping portions, l one ofsaid portions having a series of openings and the other of said portions having an in- .tegral spring tongue cooperating with said openings to lock said. portionstogetherin adjusted position.

7. In a sled, atop supporting cross brace comprising two portions, one. offsaid fportions havingfside flanges, and the other: of said portions having a reduced end telescopically received betweenisaid', side flanges and providedwith a series of openings,"said first named portion having an integral,

spring tongue cooperating with said, open ings to lock said portions together.

.8. In a sled, the combination w th a cross brace comprising two telescop ng portions and means for locking said portions to-- ings and the other of saidportions having an integral spring tongue cooperating with said openings to lock said portions together, of atop secured tosaid cross brace,..said

top engaging said tongue and holding the same with its end in looking engagement with the adjacent opening.

10. In a sled, in combination, a top, a pair of runners, and metallic frame members connecting said top and runners, said frame members each comprising a cross brace extending transversely of said top and sup porting legs extending from said cross brace and secured to said runners, said cross braces being provided with integral, struck up attaching prongs for securing said top thereto, and each of said cross braces comprising two portions, one of said portions having side flanges, and the other of said portions having a reduced end' telescopically Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the received between said side flanges and pro vided with a series of openings, said first named portion having an integral spring tongue cooperating with said openings to lock said portions together, said tongue being engaged by said top, when said top is secured in place by said attaching prongs, and held thereby with its end in locking engagement with the adjacent opening.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. VAN AKEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. VAN AKEN,

ILTON.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

